Always On Always at Risk

Higher speed service has become a reality and "Spyware" more insidious www.sharpwit.com/articles/Pub_html/websites/spyware.html

Your computer and its contents need protection. Higher speed services through ADSL and Cable means the computer is "always on" the Internet. Your machine while on-line is assigned a unique number (IPP ADDRESS). The IPP address remains static until the computer and its high speed modem is turned off. The old dial up service provided a unique IPP each and every time you accessed the Internet. The expression "harder to hit a moving target" applies to a dial up service but not an ADSL or Cable connection. If the machine is on all the time the IPP number remains the same: a fixed IPP address is a "sitting duck" for any hacker attack human or robot.

A individual fire wall and computer virus protection become necessary programs to protect yourself and your computer. Fire wall and virus protection programs can be purchased at the local computer store, or on line at http://www.mcafee.com or http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com. Free shareware fire wall programs are also available such as zone control. Go to http://www.firewallguide.com/ an excellent resource to learn about fire walls and their use.

A word of caution, should you decide to purchase a fire wall/virus protection program combination ensure that both are made by the same company. Proprietary software packages are seldom compatible with other competing brands. (if you go with McAfee use their products exclusively, the same for the Norton's software package).